Rep. Krista Knudsen

Maddy summaryHF 2318 updates Minnesota's Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) system. It increases pension adjustment revenue for school districts (e.g., setting St. Paul's rate at 3.25% for 2026+ and other districts at 2.0% for 2026+), raises employer contribution rates (e.g., requiring 9.5% for coordinated members and 13.5% for basic members by 2025), and provides unreduced retirement annuities for teachers who reach age 62 with 30 years of service. These changes directly affect public school districts (as employers) and TRA members (teachers). The bill appropriates funds to support these adjustments and amends specific sections of Minnesota Statutes.

Maddy summaryHF 3253 amends Minnesota's Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) by adding a definition for "central bank digital currency" (CBDC) and revising the definition of "money" to explicitly include digital forms issued by a central bank. This technical update ensures the UCC framework accommodates CBDC as a valid form of "money" for commercial transactions, such as payments and contracts. The bill directly affects how financial institutions, businesses, and legal entities interact with digital currency under Minnesota's commercial law, without creating new policies or affecting specific groups beyond standard UCC application.

Maddy summaryHF 3254 prohibits the sale of food products containing seven specific artificial dyes - Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3 - in Minnesota. It directly affects food sellers, including restaurants, grocery stores, and manufacturers, who would no longer be allowed to sell items containing these dyes after the effective date. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2026, banning the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of such products. This is a direct regulatory change targeting food labeling and ingredients, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Maddy summaryHF 2662 provides financial aid to Minnesota ambulance services with low emergency response density (30 or fewer responses per square mile). Eligible providers receive funding calculated in three parts: 20% equally distributed, 40% based on service area size (capped at 1,200 sq miles), and 40% based on a points system for emergency calls. The bill appropriates $15 million annually for 2026-2027, requiring recipients to spend funds within two years on local ambulance services and submit annual reports on usage. It excludes specialized life support responses from calculations and mandates reporting to the legislature on fund distribution. This directly affects rural ambulance providers with limited service area coverage.

Maddy summaryHF 3238 appropriates $2 million from the general fund for the WonderTrek Children's Museum, a nonprofit organization in Baxter, to fund capital improvements for phase I of its nine-acre campus. The funding covers design, construction, and equipment for specific elements including a 2,400-square-foot classroom, four acres of nature play exhibits, infrastructure, landscaping, and outdoor recreation facilities. This one-time appropriation is available until the project is completed or abandoned, as specified in Minnesota Statutes. The bill directly affects the museum's ability to develop its physical campus and serves the community by providing educational resources for children.

Maddy summaryHF 3151 prohibits health care providers in Minnesota from offering gender-affirming medical care (like hormone therapy or puberty blockers) or certain counseling to minors under 18. It directly affects minors seeking such care, their health care providers, and public health programs that could fund this care. Exceptions include treatment for precocious puberty or intersex conditions when medically necessary, and mental health counseling that doesn't affirm a gender identity differing from biological sex. Violations carry severe penalties, including $500,000 fines per violation, license revocation, up to 10 years in prison, and civil lawsuits by guardians. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 2230 requires all Minnesota pharmacies to offer ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine tablets for human use without a prescription. This bill directly affects every registered pharmacy in Minnesota by mandating the availability of these specific medications as over-the-counter drugs. The key provision amends Minnesota law to add a new requirement (Section 151.411) overriding existing restrictions, making it unlawful for pharmacies to refuse to sell these drugs without a prescription. The bill defines "over-the-counter drug" to include these medications, changing current pharmacy practice standards. This is a direct policy change to alter prescription requirements for two specific drugs.

Maddy summaryHF 3213 amends Minnesota's 2023 budget to allocate additional funding for the Heartland State Trail in Becker County. It specifies $550,000 for constructing a trail segment between Detroit Lakes and Frazee, with remaining funds for environmental reviews and design work on other trail sections. An additional $2.4 million is designated for environmental reviews, design, and construction of a paved trail connecting Itasca State Park to the Heartland Trail, including a tunnel under U.S. Highway 71. This bill directly affects trail development projects in Becker County and surrounding areas.

Maddy summaryHF 500 repeals Minnesota's Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board and related statutes (sections 181.211-181.217) that previously established requirements for nursing home staffing and worker protections. This bill directly affects nursing home employers in Minnesota by removing these specific regulatory standards. The key mechanism is the complete repeal of the board and its associated provisions, eliminating the legal framework that required nursing homes to comply with workforce standards and penalties for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryHF 859 creates a sales and use tax exemption for equipment used by food service businesses in Minnesota. It exempts equipment like ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, and beverage dispensers - integral to preparing food or beverages - when purchased or leased for use in restaurants, mobile food units, or catering services. The exemption excludes items like linens, utensils, tables, chairs, and delivery vehicles. This change takes effect for purchases after June 30, 2025, reducing costs for qualifying businesses.